Improved process for separating the fibers of hemp, flax



UNITED STATES JIM n. FULLER AND JAMES r. UPHAM, on GLAEEMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.`

PATENT OFFICE.-

IMPROVED PROCESS FOR SEPARATING THE vFIBERS 0F HEMP, FLAX, Lc.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,539, dated May 2, 1865; antedated April 18, 1865*.

To all whom it muy concern v Be it known that we, JIM B. FULLER and JAMES P. UPHAM, both of Claremont, county of Sullivan, and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Method of Separating the Fibers of Hemp, Flax, and other Similar Substances; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure l is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, of an apparatus in and by which our invention may be performed.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in both gures.

Heretofore such bers have been separated by subjecting them while in a close vessel to tion is performed may be of various constructions, but the one herein described we consider the best adapted to the purpose.

ln the drawings, A is a cylinder of suitable size and strength. B is a cover secured to the top of A. B is a man-hole, to which is secured the man-hole plate B. C is a steamchamber. c c c c c c c are holes made through the side of A, and lead from the interior of A to the interior of C. D is a slidevalve working on the inside of the chamber C, and opening and-closing the port E. F is a valve-rod, by which the valve Dis operated. G is an aperture near the bottom of the cylinder A, through which steam from a boiler is admitted to the cylinder A. H is an aperture near the bottom of the cylinder A, through which the water of condensation is drawn oft' from the cylinder A.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows: The brous material, either in its natural condition or after being treated by any of the known methods for extracting or dissolving out the gummy and other foreign matter, is placed through the man-hole B into the cylinder A. The manhole plate B" is then secured in its proper position by'bolts or otherwise.` If required, the bers may be boiled with water or other liquid while in the cylinder A, for the purpose of extracting or dissolving any foreign l matter remaining with the bers. It' this is done, the water or other liquid used should be drawn oft before the operation proceeds.

Steam from a boiler is then admitted through the aperture G intothe cylinder A, and is allowed'to remain until the brous substance is sufciently steamed, which time the operator will judge by the eect of steam y on the stock used.

The point or degree of pressure and temperature of steam required must also be governed by the judgment of the operator. The water of condensation is then` between the bers, and producing a partial` separation of the bers. This last' operation j may be repeated until the bers are sufficiently separated. The `bers may then be removed from 'he cylinder A through the manhole B, and dried and dusted and Inanufac tured into fabrics, accordingly to their nature.

We do not claim, broadly, the use of the 4 expensive force of steam for separating bers, as the same has been used to separate bers as blown out of a vessel. In this case the bersfare dispersed, and before they canbe gathered again lose most of their heat and moisture. With ourapparatus the bers are not blown out of the vessel containing them,

and are kept hot and moist by the steam during the several operations.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The Inode herein specified Vot separating vegetable bers while retained in `a suitable l vessel by subjecting such vegetable ber to the action of steam under pressure, and `then to a series of expansions derived from the` sudden discharge of steam (but not ber)' from such vessel as andfor the purposes specified.

JIM B. FULLER. JAMES P. UPHAM. Witnesses:

H. L. HENDRTCK, G.WM. HOLDEN. 

